NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamas is seeking assistance from the Republic of India in Information Technology.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette hailed India as one of few countries whose fast growing economies are beginning to have significant influence on world markets.
He was addressing a dinner hosted by His Excellency Mohinder S Grover, High Commissioner of the Republic of India to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, at the British Colonial Hilton, November 12.
Both countries have pledged renewed efforts in areas of mutual priority such as education, climate change and economics.
High Commissioner Grover officially presented his Letters of Commission to the Governor-General on March 26, 2009, accrediting him as non-resident High Commissioner to The Bahamas. He is resident in Jamaica.
He returned for a visit from November 10 to 13, to further strengthen ties in information technology, science, and other areas of mutual concern.
The High Commissioner also paid courtesy calls on Prime Minister the Rt Hon Hubert Ingraham, Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette, Minister of the Environment the Hon Earl Deveaux, and other Government officials.
He also went to Government House to pay respects on the passing of the Governor-General’s wife, Her Excellency, Mrs Beryl Hanna.
India is considered a world power and a potential new permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
It has the world’s second largest population with an estimated one billion people, just behind China with about 1.3 billion. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and a leader in technology.
The Bahamas and India entered into several agreements on cooperation in 2005. The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce was also included.
“Since establishing diplomatic ties between The Bahamas and India, one of the components of our relations has been for India to share with us her strength in Information Technology and science.
“Another has been the preparedness of The Bahamas to work constructively with others at home and on the world stage for a common purpose,” Mr Symonette said
L-R: Vikas Chandra, Chief Executive Officer, State Bank of India, Nassau, His Excellency Mohinder S Grover, High Commissioner of the Republic of India to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, November 12.
India is a member of the G-20 countries and has requested the support of The Bahamas for its candidature to the UN Security Council for 2011 to 2012. Elections are scheduled to take place during the Sixty-Fifth UN General Assembly from September to October, 2010.
“India has been a world model in the fight for, and conduct of the process of democracy,” Mr Symonette said.
This was exemplified through the world’s largest democratic exercise ever in the general elections held during April and May when 900 million Indian voters turned up to one million polling stations “without a whisper of corruption in the mix,” he said.
High Commissioner Grover said he was delighted to return and experience the “pristine beauty” of The Bahamas landscape.
He noted that both countries have the same objectives of striving to build on friendship and other areas of cooperation.
He also said he was pleased that the Indian community has achieved respect and lives with dignity in the Bahamian society.
